The Iranian Football Federation has filed a complaint with FIFA against the United States for "obstacles it has placed during the hosting of the 2026 World Cup."
Iran's Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth, Mohammad Shervin Asbaqian, said on Saturday in remarks to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, in response to a question about whether he was worried about the repetition of such obstacles for the Iranian delegation at the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics: "The more they obstruct, the more they are despised in the eyes of the people of the world. The illogical and unprincipled behaviors practiced by the Americans towards the national team have proven that the hegemonic system is anexploitative and tyrannical system."
Asbaqian added: "We believe that sports are separate from politics. Despite all the attempts made to prevent the national team from participating in the World Cup, the country's leadership deemed it necessary for them to participate. The players performed admirably in their matches, fighting and giving their all."
The Iranian official stressed that they "have no concerns about the obstacles that the United States may place in front of the Iranian delegation at the 2028 Olympics. We are continuing our work with full confidence. The Olympic Charter is based on the principles of peace and friendship, and sport remains separate from politics. We will have a strong presence at the Los Angeles Olympics."
Iran’s Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth confirmed that the Iranian Football Federation is following up on the complaint it filed with FIFA against America.
The Iranian national team suffered from poor conditions before the start of the tournament, ever since their country entered into a war with the United States of America in February 2016.
America also did not allow them to set up their training camp in Arizona, so they were forced to set it up across the border in Tijuana, Mexico.
Iran's national team was forced to travel back and forth to the United States for their World Cup matches, which reduced their preparation time in America and negatively affected the players' recovery after the matches, according to their coach.
Iran drew all three of its matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, and finished third in the group with 3 points. It did not qualify for the round of 32 as one of the best 8 third-placed teams, as the results of 8 other groups prevented it.
